How the XXth
Dynasty gained power remains unclear. The only
indications of the political events at this date derive
from a stele erected on the island of Elephantine by its first ruler,
Setkhnakht, and an account written down in the Great Harris Papyrus from the
biggining of the reign of Ramesses IV. On the stele, Sethnakht relates how he
expelled rebels who on their flight left behind the gold, silver, and copper
they had stolen from Egypt and with which day had wanted to hire reinforcements
among the Asiatics. The papyrus describes how a state of lawlessness and chaos
had broken out in Egypt because of forces from 'outside'; after several years in
which there was no one who ruled, a Syrian called Iarsu (a made-up name meaning
'one who made himself' ) seized power, and his confederates plundered the
country; they treated the gods like ordinary human beings and no longer
sacrificed in the temples. From these texts we may perhaps conclude that,
after the death of Taweseret, Bay had tried to seize power and may even have
succeeded for a brief time until he was expelled by
Sethnakht.To view the transcription
of kings titulary properly, please
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Origin
of Sethnakht is uncertain. Possibly his father was one of Ramesses II sons,
unknown by name brother of Merenptah.
He accessed the throne after death of queen Taweseret.
It was the time when anarchy has set in the land. Sethnakht
became famous for usurping numerous buildings erected by his predecessors.
Himself, presumably he founded two chapels at Deir el-Medina. He died short
after he proclaimed himself king and restored order in Egypt. He was buried
in a tomb (also the usurped one) of queen Taweseret
– the tomb KV14 in the
Valley of the Kings. The king’s mummy was
discovered in KV35 tomb-cache of Amenhotep
II. Setnakht was father of Ramesses III.

Son
of Sethnakht
by Teje-Mereniset. He warred with Libyans in year 5 and 11 of his rule.
Rebelling Libyan tribes had been brought into line, their cattle
reinforced donations of the temple of Amun at Karnak while some of the
tribes were displaced presumably to Balkan and Egeian territories. He
made two successful campaigns in Asia where in both inland and naval
battle near outlet of the South Delta he defeated invaders’ attack and
thus saved Egypt from foreign rule. Captured invaders were included to
Egyptian army, some of them founded in Asia the country of Philistines.
Many accounts are preserved as to building activities of Ramesses III.
He erected among others magnificent mortuary temple with palace at
Medinet Habu, started works at the area of the sacral complex at
Karnak. Also at Edfu, Buhen, Kom Ombo, Koptos, el Kab and many more
places there are numerous monuments built by Ramesses III. In year 32 of
his rule a harem conspiracy was plotted to draw the king aside of the
rule. He was to be replaced by prince Pentewere, the plot was discovered
thank to legal heir – Ramesses IV. The guilty were sentenced to death or
mutilation. Primary burial place of the king was supposed to be a KV3
tomb in the Valley of the Kings, however works on it had been cancelled.
Ultimately the pharaoh was buried in annexated tomb of Setnakht – the
tomb KV11 in the
Kings’ Valley, while the tomb KV3 was
used for burial of one of Ramesses’ sons. The king’s mummy was found in
the DB320 cache at Deir el-Bahari.

Son
of Ramesses III by queen Iset, brother of Ramesses VI.His definite
standpoint against the harem plot by the end of his father’s rule assured
him succession to the throne. There are found numerous traces of works in
quarries at Wadi Hammamat and mines in Sinai in his times. Burial place of
Ramesses was a tomb KV2 in the
Kings’ Valley although, yet being a prince, he
started building of a tomb in the Valley of the Queens – QV53. Ramesses died
aged 50. Mummy of the king was discovered in the
KV35 tomb-cache of Amenhotep II.

wsr-mAat-ra
(sxpr.n-ra)Wesermaatre Sekheperenre
(Powerful Is The Justice Of Re)

ra-msi-sw
imn-[Hr-xpS.]f Ramesses
Amunherkhopshef (Born Of Re ; Amon Is His Strength Arm)

Son
of Ramesses IV by queen Tentipet. Scanty artifacts survived from his times
at Heliopolis, Karnak, Deir el-Bahari and Sinai. Most significant written
document dated to that period is the Wilbour papyrus. This is one of most
important sources of evidence concerning Egyptian economy at those times.
The king died of smallpox aged 30-odd. Burial place –
tomb KV9 in the
Valley of the Kings, shared with Ramesses VI. The king’s mummy was
discovered in the tomb-cache of Amenhotep II –
KV35.

Son
of Ramesses III by queen Iset, brother of Ramesses IV. Apart from numerous
monuments usurped by Ramesses, other artifacts are located at Memmphis
(pylon and part of a colossal statue), Heliopolis, Karnak (stelae) and
Sinai. Statues of Ramesses are found at Tanis, Bubastis, Koptos. Burial
place – finely decorated, shared with Ramesses V
tomb KV9 in the Kings’ Valley. Mummy of
the king was discovered in the KV35
tomb-cache
of Amenhotep II.

Son
of Ramesses VI and queen Nubchesbed. There are only few documents preserved
from those times. They are mainly administrative and economical records,
e.g. settlings of accounts of expeditions for gold and galenite, anthems in
favor of the king and documents of Deir el-Medina indicating symptoms of
economical crisis such as price increase on cereals, dissolving of royal
rule, tomb robberies at necropolis. Burial place of the pharaoh – mere
tomb KV1 in the
Kings’ Valley.

This
ruler is hardy known to us. He was son of Ramesses III by a queen of unknown
name. Only a few small plaques with his name and inscription in the list of
princess from Medinet Habu survived until now. Localization of his tomb is
not known, neither mummy of the king nor any item of his funerary equipment
had been preserved.

Descent
of this ruler is not well established. Presumably he was son of
Montuherchopshaf, who in turn was son of Ramesses III by Takhat. However
E.F. Wente states that Ramesses IX was son of Ramesses VIII, while according
to one of the K.
Kitchen’s hypotheses his father was Ramesses VII. Additionally some
scholars believe that he was son of Ramesses III and a queen of unknown
name, he could also be a broter of Ramesses VIII. Duration of reign of
Ramesses IX was famous for interrogations of tomb robbers in the Kings’
Valley and against bossing corruption of officials. Burial place –
tomb KV6 in the
Valley of the Kings. Mummy of the king was discovered in the
DB320 cache at Deir el-Bahari.

Nine
years long reign assigned to this ruler by some scholars seems not very
possible. The last known document evidencing rule of Ramesses X refers to
year 3, as mentioned in records of necropolis of Deir el-Medina. Burial
place – tomb KV18 in the
Valley of the Kings. Neither mummy nor any
item from his funerary equipment has been found.

Son
of Ramesses X and queen Titi. Reign of Ramesses XI was marked by collapse of
the national authority, economical crisis, robberies of the royal tombs,
famine and, finally, civil war. Into times of Ramesses XI fall controversial
episode of expedition of Panehesi to the south, aiming to put into order
that part of the land. Ambitions of the general Panehesi resulted in
conflicts with Amenhotep – the high priest of Amun at Thebes. The civil war
had begun. At Amenhotep’s request Ramesses XI had sent additional units of
army commanded by Piankhi who drove Panechesi out
of the land whilst Piankhi himself, followed by his son-in-law
Herhor (maybe inversely…?) overtook a post of high
priests still warring in Nubia for next 10. By the end of Ramesses rule
Smendes reigned in the North (presumably he was
vizier of that territory), Herhor rules at Thebaida and gives rise to a
powerful and independent of the central rule at Tanis
dynasty of High Priests of Theban Amun. Ramesses XI was buried in
the
KV4 tomb in the
Kings’ Valley.